Window guide



March 25, 1941. I J. H. ROETHEL WINDOW GUIDE Original Filed-June 29', 1958 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A TTORNEY March 25, 1 941. Roan-15L. 2.2365450 wmbow' sums Original Filed June 29, 1958 2 Sheets-fSheet '2 J22? hi 25 645 2 29.

IH.BY e -1Q MM fA TTORNE Y5.

Patented Mar. 25 1941 UNITED STATES wmnow GUIDE- John H. Itoethel, Detroit, Mien, assignor to vel Equipment Corporation, Detroit, Mich... a

corporation of Michigan Application June 29, 1938, Serial No. 216,534 Renewed November 2, 1939 20 Claims. ((1296-44) This invention relates to means for guiding and controlling glass or transparent panels of windows, particularly windows of automobiles, in

which the transparent panels or panes are adapted to be raised and lowered. The invention is especially useful as applied to the window structure for a vehicle body having a window frame of which the upper portion is in the form of a closed figure defining a window opening with a window well therebelow formed between inner and outer body or door panels within which the guiding mechanism of the presentinvention as well as the window regulator mechanism are installed and concealed from view.

An object of the invention is to provide. improved guide mechanism within the window well for the window glass, which mechanism includes compression devices mounted on the bottom of the glass at opposite ends thereof movably or slidingly cooperable with fixed upright guides for spring suspending the glass within the well and operating to resist displacement of the glass in directions angular to the path of movement of the glass when raised and lowered, one important feature of the invention residing in the provision of a three point spring suspension means for the window glass within the window well.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for guiding the window glass- 0 into and out of the window opening and window well, which means is relatively simple in construction, capable of effecting substantial savings in material and labor costs, highly emcient in use and effective to permit and facilitate installation of the window glass from the side of the window opening downwardly into the window well. 1

The present application is a continuation in part of and embodies certain improvements over my co-pending applications Serial No. l75,'780.

Fig. 1 is an inner fragmentary'side elevation.

partly broken away and partly in section, of an automobile door, such as a front door, embodying the invention.

this invention Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the glass retainer channel with the compression guide devices in-. stalled thereon.

Fig. 3 is an enlarged horizontal section taken substantially through lines 3-3 of Fig. 1 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail view partly in section showing one of the compression guide devices.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the cross arms of the window regulator.

Before explaining in detail the present inventionit is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its applicationto the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced 'or carried out in various ways. Also it is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose of description and not limitation. and it isnot intended to limit the invention claimed herein beyond the requirements of the prior art.

In the drawings there is illustrated a' certain embodiment of the invention applied, by way of 2 example, to a front and a rear automobile door. It will be understood, however, that the embodiment herein exemplified in part or in whole may be utilized in other relations and in other structures, and in particular that other window regulator mechanism may be employed for raising and lowering the window glass panel.

In Fig. 1 there is illustrated an automobile door D which may be a front door including a front sloping pillar A and a rear upright pillar B of rounded or sloping contour at the upper end thereof.. The upper portion of the door is provided with a main window opening adapted to be closedby means of a'vertically slidable glass or other transparent panel I! and a laterally swinging glass or other transparent panel II. In the present instance the panel II, which is of socalled wing type, is disposed at the forward part of the window opening and the panels l2 and it are preferably arranged so that when in fully closed positions they extend in the same or in substantially parallel planes and cooperate together to close the main window opening. The wing type panel may be pivoted at points its and lib so as toswing laterally about an up and down axis substantiallybisecting the wing and inclined substantially in accordance withthe direction of inclination of the torward edge of the panel It. The upper pivot "a may be offset outwardly from the plane of the glass and the lower pivot lib t lo maybe offset inwardly from pic no oi the gloss and the construction. and mountii oi the wing may be substantially in accordance with co pending application Serial No. menu, filed June 15, 1938. In the present embodiment, by way of example, the forward upright edge lid of the panel i2 is inclined downwardly and forwardly at an angle preferably substantially correspond- .ing to the angle of inclination of the front pillar A and to the rear edge of thawing panel II. Becured to the edge l2a is a. channel bar II which at its inner side has a forwardly projecting lip or overlap flange Ha against which the rear edge of the wing seats when the window is fully closed.

Secured to the lower edge of the glass panel I2 is a channel bar or glass retainer member I which carries intermediate its ends a channellike depending horizontal. guide member I of conventional construction adapted to receive a stud or roller or the like on the outer end of one of the regulator arms. The glass retainer member i5 whiclrusually comprises a. lined channel embracing the lower edge of the glass 2 (see Fig. 8) carries at its rear end a compression As shown in Flgl 45, the member iii has a flattened bottom end portion lilo. ll. round elon gated stud ill is spot welded to the portion lilo through a flattened portion lilo; oi the stud. ll. cylindrical cup shaped washer or compression device ill is freely slldahle upon thcylindu icol end of the stud iii, this washer having an annulor flared or tapered portion 20. llilounted upon. the stud is a compression spring 2i, this spring being retained under compression at all times cetween shoulder swaged out or formed from the metal oi the stud, and the washer member iii. The construction of the washer and the relation of the spring thereto together with the manner in which the washer to mounted upon the stud is similar to that shown inl ig. 3. The washer it of Fig. i is retained upon the end of the stud by lugs or projections 23 swaged or struck out from the metal of the stud. The compression guide device ii cooperates with a channel guide 26 fixed within the window well through the medium of suitable brackets. This rear channel guide is inclined slightly to clear the lock handle shaft. A similar channel guide 24 parallel to the rear guide is mounted within the well adjacent the forward guided edge of the sliding panel l2, see Figs. 1 and 3. As shown. the channel guide in each instance comprises a channel opening toward the compression guiding device and having its outer edges formed with a constricted neck 24a and outwardly flared or tapered terminal portions 24b forming tracks slidingly engaged along preferably line contacts by the annular flared portion 2| of the guide device. It will be understood that when the window is installed the compression member 9 is forced back upon the stud II to iuhther compress the spring Bi. V

Referring particularly to Figs. 1, 2am! 8, the forward edge of the glass panel 92 is preferably guided within the window well through themedium of vertically spaced compression guide devices indicated generally by the numeral ill and generally similar in construction to the guide device ii. The bar it is provided with e. depend ing extension Mb lying within the window well. Secured to the forward end of the retainer member ill is a generally triongularly shaped bracket iii. This bracket is pressed irom sheet guide device indicated generally by the numeral aire loo metal. and at its upper end is spot welded to the outer face of the channel ill. The bracitet has reiniorcing'rnarglnal flanglng we: and too and also has an inwardly extended horizontal embossment 350 provided with an elongated horizontal guide slot 26. The bar extension Mb extends downwardly along the inner face of the bracket 26 and is secured thereto by screws extending through the flange a and filler blocks c. The guide devices I'll are fastened at vertically spaced points to the forward flange 282). Each device In comprises a cylindrical stud Tl riveted to the flange 25b and terminating in a head 21a. A cup-shaped washer-like compression member 20 is freely slidable upon the stud 21, and between an anti-rattle washer of leather, rubber or the like fitted within the base of the member 20 and the flange 26b is anchored the compression spring II. The washer is retained upon the stud 21 under compression against removal from the stud by the head 21a. As shown in Fig. 3, the compressiondevice it slidingly cooperates with the channel guide 24. It will thus be seen from Figs. 3 and 4 that when the window glass it is installed and guidingly supported within the window well at three points by the compression guide devices H and lit, the washer members rill will be pressed baclt upon the studs 8 and Eli thereby suspending the window within the well yieldlngiy under spring pressure.

it will he understood that the invention in certain aspects thereof may be utilized where the bar id is fixed within the window opening and forms a guide for the panel ill. it will also be understood that the term gloss used herein in n generic sense and is intended to comprehend our panel regardless of the materiel movable up and. down to close a window opening.

Ifhe window regulator mechanism includes a pair of intersecting cross arms or lever arms ilil and iii.- The outer end of the arm. til is provided preferably with a projecting headed stud illla riveted to the end of the arm and adapted to have the head thereof interlocked within the guideway ll. This stud preferably carries a slidable conical or flared washer engaging the inner, upper and lower longitudinal edges of the guideway l8 and urged thereagainst for sliding engagement therewith by a compression spring mounted upon the shank of the stud. This construction being conventional is not illustrated herein in detail. The arms 28 and 29 may be reinforced by continuous marginal flanging 28a and 2ia,.respectlvely. To the outer end oi! the arm 2! is fixed as by riveting a stud 30 which preferably has a smooth cylindrical shank slidingly extending through the guide slot 26 in the bracket ll. At one face 0! the slot the stud 30 carries a Hat spring pressed washer 3| and at the opposite lace oi. the slot the stud carries a similar washer 32' retained upon the stud by a removable cotter pin 33. Thus. the stud "may, be readily anchored within the guide slot II for limited sliding movement by simply applying the washer 32 and the cotter pin ll.

The arm 29 intermediate its ends has a widened or enlarged portion 34 formed with an arcuateslot ll. The arm 2| is pivoted through the medium 01' a. stud 38 to the portion 34 at the center be formed on a radius so as to have a transverse curvature corresponding to or' approximating the curvature of the slot 25. When the arms swing in raising and lowering the window the oflset I! will travel within the slot ll, this slot being preferably of sufficient length to prevent engagement of the offset with either end of the slot in the extreme positions of the arms during normal operation so as to prevent chatter or vibratory noises when the regulator is idle in either oi its extreme positions. The outer end of the arm 2! is offset at 29b so as to align the stud 22 with the stud 30 for operation in the aligned guideways I6 and 26. The inner end of the arm" is offset inwardly at 28b to provide both a mounting for the spring and also to bring the arm into position for securement to the mounting plate of the regulator.

- being retained on the stud by the head. The

outer end 38a of this spring is bent to provide-a hook which is hooked over the upper edge of the oilset 28b thereby anchoring the spring to the arm 28.

The swinging arm 28, which may be termed the driving arm, is secured at its inner endat two spaced points to a gear segment 38 rotatable through a pivot stud 40 upon a pressed metal mounting plate ll having screw bosses by which the mounting plate is secured by screws to the inner door panel 42, Meshing with. the teeth of the gear segment 39 is a driving pinion 43 carried by a handle shaft iournalled in the mounting plate. The handle shaft includes a conventional friction clutch device and carries at its inner end a conventional crank handle which may be turned to swing thecooperating arms to raise and 1 lower the glass panel l2. The inner metal door or body panel 42 in practice extends longitudinally and connects the front and rear pillar structures below the main window opening. The inner'end of the arm 29, which may be termed the guide or balance arm, is slidingly mounted downwardly and upwards in substantially a.

straight line direction, thus avoiding any material tilting of the glass in its plane or shifting the glass endwise inits plane. In view of the substantially straight line path oi movement of the glass l2 it is possible to suspend the glass within the window well through the medium of the compression guide devices I! and Ill and at the same time insure smoothness and more efficient operation of the glass while holding the glass tightly in all positions thereof against wabbling or movement when a force is applied directly to the glass. It will be seen that the glass I2 is suspended under spring tension at three points I1 and H0. Increased smoothness of operation and elimination of any material'tendency of the compression guide devices to bind atone side or the other against the channel guides 24 is acv glass. Preferably the springs 2| of the devices I'll exert a combined effort or force on the devices 22 substantially equal to the effort or force applied by the spring 2| of the compression device II at the opposite side of the glass. It is, therefore, preferred that each of the springs of the two compression devices I10 be substantially lighter or weaker than thespring of the single compression device l1, reference in this respect being made to the embodiment illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2. It will also be noted in connection with the foregoing embodiment that the bracket 25 serves'the combined function of supporting the compression guide devices I10 and providing a connection through the guide slot 26 for the stud 20 at the outer end of the regulator arm 29. This construction not only simplifies the structure, providing economies in manufacture by eliminating a second channel guide It but also facilitates assembly of the window regulator with the glass retainer channel l5,

Important results are achieved by virtue of th present invention. Greater simplicity of conlator permits a direct connection of the arm 29 with the bracket 25. The construction and arrangement of the three point suspension means, i. e. the upright guides within the window well and thelongitudinally yieldable compression devices, which are preferably mounted in the plane of the window panel, permits and facilitates installation of the window panel l2 from the side of the window opening in a closed body by passing the lower edge of the panel, upon which the glass retainer channel and guide devices are mounted,

downwardly into the window well between the' inner and outer body panels.

I claim: 1'. In a window structure for a vehicle body having a window glass adapted to be lowered into pension devices at opposite ends of the glass within the window well for guiding the same comprising a pair-of vertically spaced devices at one end of the glass and a single device at the opposite end, a glass retainer channel secured to the lower edge of the glass, one of said suspension devices comprising a longitudinal stud secured directly to the retainer channel, and a spring pressed compression member slidable between predetermined limits on said stud.

2. In a window structure for a vehicle body having a window frame of which the upper portion' is in the form of a closed figure defining a window opening with-a window well therebelow formed between inner and outer body panels and, an up and down sliding window panel movable into and out of said well and window opening; a pair of upright fixed guides within the well below said opening, guide devices on the bottom of the window panel at opposite ends thereof including a plurality of vertically spaced devices at one end of the window panel and a device on the bottom of the window panel at the opposite end thereof, said devices comprising yieldable means s'pringsuspending the panel on the guides within the well and adapted to be assembled upon the a window well and raised therefrom, spring sushold the window panel against displacement transverse to the up and down path of travel of the panel.

13. A guide structure according to claim 12 in which the spring pressure exerted by said devices on the two guides is substantially or approximately equalized.

14. A guide structure according to claim 12 in i which said guide members comprise channel members facing each other and said compression devices slidingly engage parallel edges of the channel members at points spaced from the bottom's thereof.

15. 'A guide structure according to claim 12 in which each of said upright guide members has substantially parallel guiding edges and said compression devices travel along said edges.

16. A structure according to claim 12 comprising a glass retainer channel adapted to be secured to the bottom of the window panel and a depending bracket secured to one end thereof carrying said vertically spaced devices. said bracket having a longitudinal slot closed at both ends, and a swinging window regulator arm adapted tobe connected at its outer end in said slot.

17. In a window structure for a vehicle body having a window frame with a window opening and a well therebelow, a window panel adapted to be raised and lowered in said window opening and well. and fixed upright channel guides mounted in the window well adjacent opposite ends of the panel; a metal channel adapted to embrace the lower edge of the panel, a longitudinally yleldable spring pressed compression device mounted on one end'of the bottom of said channel and adapted to travel along spaced parallel edges of one of said guides. a depending bracket secured to the bottom of said channel at the opposite end thereof and having means for attachment thereto of a depending extension of a metal guide post secured to the adjacent upright edge of the panel, a longitudinally yleldable spring pressed compression device secured to the lower end of the bracket below the end oi the post and extending longitudinally beyond the same for travel along spaced parallel edges of the adjacent guide, and guide means between the bracket and said last named guide extending in a locality above said last named guide device.

18. In a window structure for a vehicle body having a window frame with a window openingand a well therebelow, a window panel. adapted to be raised and lowered in said window opening and well. and fixed upri ht channel guides mountedin the window well adjacent opposite ends of the panel; a metal channel adapted to embrace the lower edge ot the panel. a longitudinally yleldable spring pressed compression device mounted on one end of the bottom of said channel and adapted to travel along spaced parallel edges of one of said guides, 9. depending bracket secured to the bottom of said channel at the opposite end thereof and having means for attachment thereto of a depending extension of a metal guide post secured to the adjacent upright edge of the panel, and a longitudinally yleldable spring pressed compression device secured to, the lower end of the bracket below the end of the post and extending longitudinally beyond the same for travel along spaced parallel edges of the adjacent guide, the spring pressure of said first named compr ssion device being greater than the spring pressu e of said second named device.

19. In a window structure for a vehicle body having a window frame with a window opening and a well therebelow, a window panel adapted to be raised and lowered in said window opening and well, and fixed upright channel guides mounted in the window well adjacent opposite ends of the panel; a metal channel adapted to embrace the lower edge of the panel, a longitudinally yleldable spring pressed compression device-mounted on one end of the; bottom of said channel and adapted to travel along spaced parallel edges of one of said guides, a depending bracket secured to the bottom of said channel at the opposite end thereof and having means for attachment thereto of a depending extension of a metal guide post secured to the adjacent upright edge of the panel, and a longitudinally yleldable spring pressed compression device secured to the lower end of the bracket below the end of the post for travel along spaced parallel edges of, the adjacent guide, said depending exends of the panel; a metal channel adapted-to.

embrace the lower edge of the panel, and a longitudinally yleldable spring pressed compression dc vice mounted at each end of the bottom of said channel and adapted to travel along spaced parallel edges of one of said guides, each of said devices having means cooperable with the parallel edges 0! the guide for resisting displacement or the window panel in a direction transverse to the opening and closing movementthereof. the spring pressure of one of said devices being materially greater than the spring pressure of the other of said devices.

'JOHN H. nomm. 

